For the first time in many years the SONA is expected to draw significant attention for an array of reasons. It will be the first SONA by the UDC, an opposition coalition which ousted the BDP from 58-years of uninterrupted power a few weeks ago.
Boko will also be addressing an expectant nation that has been burdened by devastating economic challenges and deepening youth unemployment which is estimated to be over 32 percent. The country’s economic challenges have further been compounded by the declining diamond revenue base. Diamonds have anchored the country’s economy for decades.
In the main, for Boko, the SONA will be an opportunity to give insights into the government's priorities, policy directions, and strategies for addressing key challenges facing the country or Batswana. Apart from laying down the country’s path to economic recovery it is inevitably that Boko will also use the SONA to detail how his government will deliver its electoral promises in the short, medium, and long-term basis.
Among others, the UDC has promised to create 500 000 jobs in five years as well as building 100 000 houses for Batswana during the same period. But there is still an element of doubt among some Batswana and opposition parties that the UDC will deliver most of its promises. These promises have been labelled overly ambitious by some critics including former president Mokgweetsi Masisi. Last week when addressing the media, Masisi said that some of the UDC’s aspirations such as increasing the minimum wage to P4000 and increasing the old age pension to P1800.00 will collapse the economy.
This week the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) also seemed very skeptical about the UDC’s prospects of meeting some of its key post-election promises.
"Mr President (referring to Boko) you dare not fail to pay the P1,800 you promised to pay end of month, and you dare not fail to deliver to pay the P4000 minimum wage, P2500 student allowance, the 100 000 houses you said you will deliver in 5 years " BCP president Dumelang Saleshando said in a press briefing this week, exhibiting a posture of doubt about the UDC’s prospects to deliver most of its key post-election promises.
Some entities like Business Botswana have also expressed hope that the ascendance of the UDC to power will mark the beginning of the country’s economic revival anchored by the private sector.
In sum, that is why it is vital for Boko to use the SONA as an opportunity to set a transformative agenda of his government, instill public confidence, and clarify how the UDC will fulfill its promises while navigating complex economic realities or challenges.
This week, the BDP,which is still adjusting to the reality of being in the opposition said that it is eagerly waiting for Boko’s SONA address.
“We expect the UDC to tell us how it is going to implement its manifesto or promises. Remember that the National Development Plan (NDP) has now been aligned with the parliament term, so they have a clean slate to start NDP12 using their manifesto,” BDP spokesperson Kagelelo Banks Kentse told Mmegi in an interview.
Despite Masisi’s reservations about the UDC achieving some its post-election promises, Kentse stated that the BDP as an institution can’t question how the UDC will implement its manifesto.
“Well, we cannot answer for the UDC. We made our manifesto aware of the financial economic situation, so did they. All local & international reports are there. We knew. We also knew the possible economic growth rate so they made all these promises cognisant of the economic climate,” he said.
Political commentator Adam Mfundisi expects Boko ‘as per SONA ritual’ to layout his vision for the country.
“I expect him to acknowledge, under his predecessor Masisi, economic stagnation, corruption, maladministration, rampant poverty, unemployment, inequality and poor state of our infrastructure. He should then provide short, medium, and longtime interventions as well as solutions. He has to provide a strategy and direction for actualising the promises made by the UDC,” Mfundisi said.
In addition, Boko must share the agenda for his 100 days in office according to Mfundisi.
“I expect him to reassure voters on integrity and good governance. Moreover, his policies have to be anchored on a sound constitutional order. Therefore, the issue of a broad based and comprehensive constitutional reform must form priority areas of the SONA. Any sustainable and durable constitution must be a genuine product of the people, not president, party, or vested interests,” he said.
Mfundisi further noted, that given the narrative that the youth played a leading role in removing the BDP from power because the party did not meet their desires, the former will be eager to get a glimpse of what Boko has in store for them. As such, the analyst expects Boko to talk about initiatives aimed at directly addressing the plight of the youth such as unemployment.
